CARMICHAEL, Nathaniel "Ray"

CARMICHAEL, APPLETON, BRIGGS, WALDEN, PORTER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/9/2016 at 15:15:03

BIOGRAPHY of NATHANIEL "RAY" CARMICHAEL
Graceland University, Lamoni, Decatur County, Iowa

Nathaniel "Ray" Carmichael was born in Oakland, California, on December 19, 1892, the son of Nathaniel and Nettie May (Appleton) Carmichael. He was baptized into the RLDS Church on February 17, 1901.

N. Ray Carmichael enrolled at Graceland in 1913 and graduated as part of the six-member class of 1915, the first group at the college to receive the associate of arts degree. He continued his education at Iowa State and obtained his B.S. in agriculture in 1918. He completed graduate work at Iowa State and the University of Edinburg, Scotland. He became an assistant plant pathologist with the Iowa Department of Agriculture, served in World War I, and worked three years for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Carmichael was recuited by Graceland president George N. Briggs and the RLDS Church to serve as the college's business manager, performing that role from 1924 to 1934, and acting as treasurer from 1926 to 1938. During this period, Mr. Carmichael was involved in the financing for Zummermann Hall and Walker Hall. He also established the Graceland Foundation, which provided financial security for campus expansion during the Depression, and remained associated with that group for 49 years.

Mr. Carmichael was particularly concerned with developing the college farms, both as support for Graceland's food service program and for use in the educational curriculum. In 1930, He organized the first steps in establishing a permanent alumni association. He worked with Physical Plant manger Evan Walden to develop a landscaping program in 1931.

Mr. Carmichael left his role as business manager in 1934 when he became a member of the RLDS Presiding Bishopric, overseeing all of the church's agricultural properties. He helped guide the RLDS Church to economic solvency during the Depression and was involved in developing water resources in the Midwest.

He served on the Graceland Board of Trustees from 1934-37, becoming the third of five Carmichael family members to be on that board during Graceland's first century.

Mr. Carmichael edited the Jacson County Farm Bureau news for twelve years and served on Lamoni's City Council.

The former business manager received Graceland's Distinguished Service Award in 1968.

Mr. Carmichael was ordained in the priesthood on February 12, 1922; ordained a high priest on February 7, 1926; and, ordained a bishop on May 8, 1932. He became a member of Presiding Bishopic, serving from April 8, 1934 to 1940, and was superannuated on April 1, 1968.

NOTE: N. "Ray" Carmichael married Lulu Grace Porter on August 11, 1925. Lulu was born February 19, 1895, Anamosa, Iowa, and died at Lees Summit, Missouri on May 28, 1983. Ray died on February 18, 1978, Independence, Missouri. They were interred at Mound Grove Cemetery, Indepencence, Missouri.

NOTE: Carmichael House, the official residence of Graceland's president, was completed and dedicated on May 15, 1994. It was named in honor of five members of the Carmichael family who served on Graceland's Board of Trustees during the first century of the college's existence: Albert Carmichael (1911-1935), A. Max Carmichael (1922-1925), N. "Ray" Carmichael (1934-1937), D. R. Carmichael (1952-1965), and David Carmichael (1988- ).

SOURCES:
Edwards, Paul M. "The Hilltop Where. . . An Informal History of Graceland College." Pp. 80, 86, 88. Venture Foundation. Lamoni IA. 1972.

geocitiessites.com/scott_norwood/CarmichaelN.html

Goehner, David. “The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z.” p. 396. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997.

Transcription and notes by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016

Decatur Biographies maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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